This is not the word on the street. These are not the rantings from those opposed or for an Authorization to Strike.
Please allow to download. You will not be sorry…then again, maybe you will.
”FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“October 2008
Dear SAG Members,
We worked long and hard through press releases and demonstrations of dissatisfaction with SAG leadership to achieve our latest contract agreement with the AMPTP and we hope you’ll be pleased.
For most actors that work in TV, half of your income is usually residuals. It’s also common knowledge that ALL production will be “internet production”. We’re happy to announce we have eliminated residuals by accepting a no-residual-for-made-for-New-Media deal.
As evidenced by the DVD deal “revisit” that has never happened, we are sure that residuals will NEVER RETURN. In one fell swoop we have destroyed all the gains for which that the actors before us fought so hard. To further illustrate this, please take out your 2007 tax returns and look at your gross income. Now cut that in half. Now imagine living on that.
The other item we’re quite pleased with is the fact that we’ve given the studios and networks permission to amass a huge pool of non-union talent. This has occurred because we have allowed non-union production for shows under $15,000 a minute.
We also gained a 3% cost-of-living increase in Old Media which may not matter in about a year as all those entertainment corporations are folding in on themselves and/or will be doing “made-for-new-media” exclusively and/or there will be an explosion of independent production distributed on the internet anyway.
We’ll give you details on the elimination of Force Majeure and Clip Consent at a later date. Basically you will sometimes be held without pay if you are under contract when something like an earthquake or a strike from another union shuts down production, but you don’t mind, do you?! Look at you! At least you’re working, right?!
Regarding no-consent-for-clip-usage, you’re more than OK if the corporation that owns the show you did 10 years ago let’s the fans cut footage of you together with monkeys cleaning their “private parts”, right? Man, what if it goes viral! Think of the exposure!!!
An additional point to make about the residual “deal” we got, the elimination of these payments will also eventually destroy the pension & health funds for all the union crew members for whom we were so anxious to “get back to work”. As you know money earmarked for residuals for union crew members is not paid directly TO the crew members, but instead actually funds their P&H. Isn’t that neat?!
We hope you’re excited as we are to get back to work and will be happy with your greatly-reduced income and your greatly-increased difficulty finding union jobs.
Sincerely, The SAG NY Board
P.S. Don’t forget us in the next election and rest assured that we are furiously working to find a way to merge with the broadcasters’ organization that has been undercutting your potential income for years. We know you’ll be pleased with that.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact the chair of the NY Board’s “Press Release Committee”.
I hope everyone saw this email from the Guild this weekend. (Text of the press release below after my email).
It has been said that the current leadership is ruled by ego and interested only in saber-rattling and bullying in order to get its way.
The resolution that came out of the S.A.G. National Board room this weekend was one that was voted up unanimously. Read the rest of this entry » »